More Topics

Weather Forecast

Carter's corn maze bigger and better at new location

The maze is full of state-specific factoids and trivia. Entry is on the western border of Minnesota above. You could travel the state from the north and south.1 / 2

The entrance to the Carters' Minnesota maze takes a sharp turn and you're embarking on a lifetime adventure. Just be sure to use the buddy system when traversing the maze. (Sarah Smith / Enterprise)2 / 2

The. Most. Awesome. Corn. Maze. Ever.

Will open to visitors Saturday morning off Hubbard County 115 at Carter's Red Wagon Farm.

The 4.5-acre cutting features unique Minnesota factoids, its state bird and a lot of fun.

The brainchild of Tony Carter, the maze is the culmination of months of planning and picking.

Tony Carter has always designed the sunflower and corn mazes at the Park Rapids Market outlet on Highway 34. Each has featured information stations so kids can learn about agriculture and the state they're in.

Each year the farm puts on pumpkin parties six Saturdays during September and October with lots of events for kids. The mazes have been the signature events at the parties.

But when nearly 2,000 kids flocked to the Market last year, the Carters needed to think bigger.

"We had outgrown here. Parking was a nightmare," Linda Carter recalled. "We'd talked about moving them to the farm for years."

The original Red Wagon Farm is a few miles south of Park Rapids off County Road 115.

When the couple decided this was the year for the move, Tony planned the maze on a grand scale. The elaborate Minnesota maze features state notables such as Laura Ingalls Wilder, John Beargrease, the Duluth aerial bridge, Itasca State Park, the Kensington Runestone, the Boundary waters and some general state trivia, all carved into a cornfield.

The maze was computer generated, then marked out in the field as the corn was planted. It was mapped on a grid system.

As the stalks sprouted Tony and his farm hands spray painted the pathways according to the map, then pulled the corn by hand.